Floor mat



sept. 14, 194s. 3, E, FLAKER 2,449,465

FLOOR MAT Filed Sept. 23, 1945 Patented Sept. 14, 1948 FLOOR MAT Jacob E. Flaker, Barberton, Ohio Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. .698,636

Y 4 Claims.

This invention relates to floor mats.

One object of the invention is to provide a -floor mat having improvedflexible foot-wiping means thereon for eifective and efiicient removal of dirt from the bottoms of shoes, improved means also being provided for retrieving the dirt thus removed to obviate depositing the same 'on the supporting surface under the mat, and

therefore eliminating the usual necessity for sweeping said fioor sur-face to remove the collected dirt.

i Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away and partly in phantom, of a floor mat embodying lthe features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, greatly enlarged, illustrating a fragmentary portion of the mat of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section through vulcanizing apparatus for producing the floor mat of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral I designates a floor mat comprising a relatively thin pad of flexible, resilient material, such as vulcanized rubber or synthetic elastomer. Provided in the normally upwardly presented broad lateral surface of the pad I6 may be a honey-comb of relatively small recesses II having annular walls tapering inwardly to substantial depth, but to less` than the thicknesszofthe pad, as best shown in Figure 3. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the general pattern and spacing of the recesses II is such that groups of three immediately adjacent recesses of the pattern each` define a distinct substantially solid portion bounded as shown by -arcuate lwall surfaces of said three adjacent recesses and being of approximately the same thickness of the mat, a plurality of such resultantly closely spaced solid portions being adapted to support the weight of a person standing on the mat without substantial give or flexing; The wall portions be- 'tween any two immediately adjacent recesses,

however, are relatively thin and flexible, that is intermediate said solid portions, to be capable of substantial exing action upon wiping of the feet on the mat. To assist the wiping action referred to, or in other words to compensate for the relative stiffness of said dividing 2 wall portions, annular, tangentially` intercorrnecting, flexible ribs I2 may -be provided` around the mouths of the recesses II.

In the use of the mat, as for example as a door mat, a user wipes his 'feet across the top surface thereof, and as the average foot is large:

enough to overlie a substantial numberl ofthe recesses Ii, the ribs I2k very effectively'remove dirt from the bottoms of the shoes. Because the recesses II do not extend through the mat, the removed dirtwill be retained Within the recesses, so that periodically the mat may be shaken to deposit the dirt therefrom in an appropriately convenient place. As no dirt will be collected on the floor surface beneath the mat, the usual aggravating operation of sweeping under the mat is eliminated. The inwardly tapered sides `of the recesses facilitates ready removal of dirt therefrom which may become caked.

In Figure 4 is illustrated the vulcanizing apparatus for producing the above described floor mat. A mold unit i3, comprising upper, lower and intermediate sections I4, I5 and I6, respec- V tively, is removably received between upper and depths of which correspond to the thickness of the mats. For forming the d-irt receiving recesses II, II of the mats, oppositely disposed tapered buttons or discs 2l, 2| are secured to the oppositely disposed inner faces of the cavities I9 and 20, in closely spaced relation according to `the desired spacing of the honey-comb of recesses, as previously described. For securing the buttons ZI to the intermediate mold section, pins 23, 23 are received through aligned apertures in the buttons and in the web portion 2li dened between the cavities I9 and 26. The outer ends of the recesses in the buttons are shown countersunk for receiving correspondingly shaped retaining heads on the opposite ends of the pins, one of which may be a stock head with the other being formed as by riveting on assembly. Annular relatively narrow, recesses 25 are provided on the inner faces of the cavities I9 and 2U around each of the buttons 2| for forming the ribs I2 of the mat.

Thus the vulcanizing apparatus described above is capable of use for vulcanizing a mafl l on each side of the intermediate mold member I6, the mats being formed in the press in known manner under requisite pressure and vulcanizing heat.

It willy 'be seenthfat by the provision of separate buttons 2| for forming the ribs I2 of the mat, a substantial amount of expensive machining or engraving in the article-forming cavities of the mold is obviated. Also, any number of the buttons 2| are easily replaceable upon becoming worn or broken, without necessarily affecting the others. The necessity for replacement of the complete intermediate mold section thereby may be eliminated.

Modications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or ther scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1'. A floor mat, comprising a relatively thin one-piece pad composed' of resilient material, saidv pad having a honeycomb of recesses extending inwardly of one broad lateral facel thereof, said recesses having generally arcuate inner wall surfaces, said recesses being closely spaced and arranged to have a general pattern in which groups of at least three immediately adjacent recesses of the pattern define a distinct substantially solid portion bounded by a correspondi'ng number of' arcuate wall surface portions or" the'adjacent recesses and being of approximately the thickness of the pad and aplurality of which Awill support the weight of a person standing on the pad without substantial' flexing of said solid portions, the portions of said pad between any two of the immediately adjacent recesses being relatively thin and flexible as compared with said solid portions and thereby adapted to ex upon wiping ofv feet on the pad.

2'. A floor mat, comprising a relatively thin onepiece pad composed of resilient material, said pad having -a honeycomb of recesses extending inwardly `of one broad' lateral face thereof, said recesses having generally arcuate inner wall surfaces, said recesses being closely spaced and arranged to have a general pattern in which groups of at least three immediately adjacent recesses ofthe pattern dei-lne a distinct substantially solid portion bounded by a corresponding number of arcuate wall surface portions of the adjacent recesses and being of approximately the thickv ness of the pad and a plurality of which will support the weight of a person standing on the pad without substantial flexing of said solid portions, the portions of said pad between any two of the immediately adjacent recesses being relatively thin and flexible as compared with said solid portions and thereby adapted to flex upon wiping of feet on the pad, said pad having on said face thereof integral well-defined ribs extending substantially continuously around each said recessrand above the plane of said face adapted .tot provide for additional foot-wiping action thereon.

3. A floor mat, comprising a relatively thin onepiece pad composed of resilient material, said pad having a honeycomb of recesses extending inwardly of one broad lateral face thereof defined by annular Walls, said recesses being closely spaced and arranged to have a general pattern in which groups of at least three immediately adjacent recesses of the pattern define a substantially solid portion bounded by a corresponding number of arcuate wall surface portions of the adjacent-recesses and being of approximately the thickness of" the pad and a plurality of which will support the weight of a person standing on the pad without substantial flexing of said solid portions, the portions of said pad between any two of the immediately adjacentI recesses being relatively thin and flexible as -compared with said solid portions and thereby adapted to flex upon wiping of feet on the pad, said pad having on said face thereof integral welldefined annular ribs extending substantially continuously around each said recess and above the plane of saidl facev ladapted tof provide fory additional Vfoot-wiping action thereon.

4. A floor mat, comprising a relativelythin one-piece pad composed of' resilient materialgsaid pad having a honeycomb of recesses extending inwardly of one :broad-lateral face thereof defined by annular walls, said recesses being closely spaced and arranged to. have a general pattern in which groups of three immediately adjacent recesses of the pattern deflnea vsubstantially solid portion bounded by three arcuate wallsurface portions of thev adjacent recesses and being of approximately thev thickness; of" the, pad and a plurality of which will support the weight of a person standing on the pad withoutsubstantial flexing of said solid portiona-the portions ofV saidy pad between any two of thev immediately adjacent recesses being relatively thin andl flexible as compared with said solid portions `and therebyL adapted to flex uponwiping of feet. on the pad, said recesses being inwardly tapered and extending inwardly of said face toa depth of less than the full thickness of the pad said pad hav-- ing on said face thereof integral well-defined annular ribs extending substantially continuously around each said recess and above theL plane -of said face adapted to provide for additional footwiping action thereon.

JACOB E. FLAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent.:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain May 31, 192s 

